A narrative review of influenza educational interventions for adult patients who attend the emergency department

Background: Influenza is associated with serious health impacts including mortality, morbidity, and increased health care utilisation. Emergency departments (ED) have increased influenza presentations every year and education has been proven to reduce ED re-attendances and evidence for ED influenza Education Interventions (EI) is unclear. Method: Peer-reviewed literature conducted in English language listed on health and medical electronic databases were assessed. The initial review of ED influenza EIs for adult patients was an empty review. We expanded the review to all influenza EI in any setting such as public health. The primary search was completed in 2014 and 2015 and expanded search were performed in January 2016 using keywords that included, amongst many others, influenza, emergency department, patient education, and self-care. Reference lists of relevant articles were also screened. Standard requirements for literature review assessments were followed and a narrative review was conducted. Results: The database search yielded 452 potentially relevant studies and no eligible studies found. A narrative review reports ED influenza ED organisation plans, influenza patient education and implications for influenza self-care. Conclusion: This literature review revealed no eligible published studies to support current influenza educational activities or educational interventions that could be used in emergency departments and public health initiatives. There are informal and government sources of influenza information however the efficacy of the influenza information in supporting self-care could not be determined.